CrPC 105H — Forfeiture of property in certain cases

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Statutory text

(1) The  Court may,  after  considering  the explanation,  if  any,  to  the  show-cause  notice  issued  under  section  105G  and  the  material  available
before  it  and  after  giving  to  the  person  affected  (and  in  a  case  where  the  person  affected  holds  any
property  specified  in  the  notice  through  any  other  person,  to  such  other  person  also)  a  reasonable
opportunity of being heard, by order, record a finding whether all or any of the properties in question
are proceeds of crime:
Provided that if the person  affected  (and in a case where the person affected  holds  any  property
specified  in  the  notice  through  any  other  person  such  other  person  also)  does  not  appear  before  the Court or represent his case before it within a period of thirty days specified in the show-cause notice, the  Court  may  proceed  to  record  a  finding  under  this  sub-section ex  parte on  the  basis  of  evidence available before it.
(2) Where the  Court is satisfied that some of  the  properties  referred to in the  show-cause  notice
are  proceeds  of  crime  but  it  is  not  possible  to  identify  specifically  such  properties,  then,  it  shall  be
lawful for the Court to specify the properties which, to the best of its judgment, are proceeds of crime and record a finding accordingly under sub-section (1).
(3) Where  the  Court  records  a  finding  under  this  section  to  the  effect  that  any  property  is
proceeds  of  crime,  such  property  shall  stand  forfeited  to  the  Central  Government  free  from  all encumbrances.
(4) Where any shares in a company stand forfeited to the Central Government under this section,
then, the company shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956)
or  the  articles  of  association  of  the  company,  forthwith  register  the  Central  Government  as  the transferee of such shares.
105-I.  Fine  in  lieu  of  forfeiture.—(1) Where  the  Court  makes  a  declaration  that  any  property
stands  forfeited  to  the  Central  Government  under  section  105H  and  it  is  a  case  where  the  source  of
only  a  part  of  such  property  has  not  been  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Court,  it  shall  make an
order  giving an option to the person  affected to  pay,  in lieu  of forfeiture,  a fine equal to the  market value of such part.
(2) Before  making  an  order  imposing  a  fine  under  sub-section (1), the  person  affected  shall  be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(3) Where  the  person  affected  pays  the  fine  due  under  sub-section (1), within  such  time  as  may
be allowed in that behalf, the Court may, by order, revoke the declaration of forfeiture under section
105H and thereupon such property shall stand released.

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